May 4, 2026
Read full article in Giving Back Magazine
For many experienced professionals, the most meaningful impact does not always come from the next career milestone – it comes from directing their experience toward something bigger.
Across San Diego County, a growing community of professionals is stepping beyond the workplace to tackle challenges alongside nonprofit leaders. Amplified Impact Partners (“Amplified”) exists to make those connections possible.
Amplified is a 501(c)(3) that mobilizes talented professionals (“Partners”) to work with local nonprofits, providing high-impact, pro bono consulting that many organizations could not otherwise access. Working in small teams, Partners counsel nonprofit leaders needing support with financial planning, strategy, communications, governance and program development.
The results? Nonprofits move forward with greater effectiveness and a stronger foundation for long-term impact.
For more than 20 years, Amplified has supported nonprofits of every size at every stage.
It is not just the nonprofits that evolve through this experience. The consulting engagements enable Partners to deepen their understanding of the issues affecting the region and many emerge as more informed, engaged philanthropists.
For Amplified Partners such as Trish Watlington, using her professional expertise to make a lasting impact for a local organization was deeply rewarding. “It was an honor to work with the Ivey Ranch Park Association. We admired their commitment to fostering inclusion and support for those they serve,” shared Watlington.
“It was also incredibly rewarding to work alongside such skilled Partners. The bonds we built with the Ivey Ranch team will stay with us for years to come.”
Every engagement is carefully scoped, and Partners are provided with ample training and resources to deliver high-value support where it is needed most.
Learn more about how you can get involved in Amplified’s mission and step into purpose as an Amplified Partner.
Q. Who is a good fit to be a Partner? A. Partners bring both expertise and heart – accomplished professionals with a genuine passion for creating change. Whether you are at the height of your career, navigating a transition or looking to stay sharp and connected in retirement, Amplified offers a unique way to give back.
Q. What types of nonprofits do Partners support? A. We support nonprofits tackling the region’s most pressing challenges – uplifting youth and families, homelessness, standing with refugees and veterans, protecting animals and the environment and more.
Q. What skills do Partners bring nonprofits? A. Partners provide expert support in every area of running a business – finance and budgeting, communications, strategic planning, board governance and leadership development.
Q. How do I become a Partner? A. Visit www.amplified.org/join to begin the conversation and attend an upcoming Why Amplified session.
Now in a bold new chapter following its rebrand from San Diego Social Venture Partners to Amplified Impact Partners, the organization continues to grow.
That momentum is strengthened by collaborators like SDG&E, whose Nonprofit Capacity Building Series provided the platform for Amplified to launch its new Flex Teams. SDG&E’s Nonprofit Capacity Building Series offers action-oriented conversations with community leaders stewarding capacity-building efforts.
“We are grateful to SDG&E for helping us launch this rapid-response consulting model,” said Erica Halpern, CEO of Amplified. “Flex Teams were created in response to a period of increased need across our nonprofit community, and participating in the Nonprofit Capacity Building Series allowed us to connect directly with more leaders who could benefit from our services.”
Together, they are expanding opportunities for professionals to make a difference.
